Chapter 2

After seeing how calm I was, Lorraine's friends began panicking on her behalf.

"You've really gone too far this time, Lori. I think Cyrus is genuinely mad."

"You can't go back to the Jensen family, and now you've lost Cyrus as your boyfriend, too. How are you going to support yourself from now on?"

Lorraine brushed them off, not feeling the least bit worried.

"Why are you guys freaking out? Cyrus is nothing but a simp for me. Just wait and see. In less than three days, he'll come crawling back to me, begging me to take him back.

"Besides, I'm going to become a CEO in the future! Once that happens, all of the richest and most powerful people in Jannington will be dying to suck up to me."

Even as I walked away, I could still hear her confident boasting, and it made me laugh.

She was going to become a CEO, huh?

In my previous life, I was the one who put her in that position by investing in the company and clearing all the obstacles in her path. If it hadn't been for that, with that pea-sized brain of hers, she wouldn't even be able to work as a clerk in an office, let alone become a CEO.

Either way, Lorraine's life was no longer any of my business. I had something even more important to do.

The Lloyds and the Jensens had arranged a marriage between the two families, and when the Jensens found Lyra, they decided to let her marry me.

Today was supposed to be the day of our engagement party.

In my previous life, I chose not to show up at the engagement party because I'd decided to break the marriage alliance. I even left Lyra at the altar on our wedding day, making her the laughingstock of Jannington.

Yet, she didn't hold that against me. She even gave me the money to pay for my mother's medical bills, and when I became a homeless beggar, she graciously brought me home and took care of me.

To think that I'd shunned such a kind and gentle woman for a bitch like Lorraine… I was a foolish bastard, alright.

…

Even before the car came to a complete stop, I opened the door and dashed into the Jensen residence. As soon as I opened the door, I heard a steely voice saying, "Dad, I don't want to marry Cyrus Lloyd."

I tripped over my foot and nearly fell flat on the floor. There was no way I'd fail to recognize that voice. It belonged to Lyra.

My eyes misted over, and I felt a pang in my heart.

Memories of the previous life flooded through my head.

When Lyra first brought me home off the streets, I wasn't in a good place emotionally. I had constant mood swings and could fly into a rage without warning.

Yet, not only did Lyra not get mad at me for that, but she also didn't mind how dirty I was. She would wipe me down, feed me my medicine, and slowly clear up the mess I'd created in my fits of anger.

Lyra… Oh, Lyra.

Mr. Jensen sighed. After recalling all of the outrageous things I'd done for Lorraine's sake recently, he didn't feel like letting Lyra suffer by marrying me either.

He turned to my father and said, "Simon, Cyrus is a good man, but Lyra isn't the one he loves. Why don't we just forget about the engagement?"

"No, don't!" I rushed into the living room and got on my knees in front of Mr. and Mrs. Jensen. "Please, Mr. and Mrs. Jensen. Don't call off the engagement. I want to marry Lyra."

As soon as I said that, everyone stared at me in shock, their expressions colored with doubt.

I could only grimace at that. Prior to this, in an attempt to stick up for Lorraine, I'd declared to the media that she was the only woman I'd ever marry. Therefore, it wasn't a surprise that none of them believed me now.

"I mean it, Mr. and Mrs. Jensen. I want to marry Lyra. I know it'll sound ridiculous to you if I say that I love her, but I've truly thought things through. I won't marry anyone but Lyra."

I looked up at Lyra, staring fixedly at her, and said, "Lyra, will you give me another chance?"

She quickly averted her eyes, but I noticed how they'd reddened slightly. Seemingly moved by my actions, she nodded. With a determined gaze, she said, "Alright. I'll give you one last chance."

…

The moment I left the Jensen residence, I got a message informing me that 100 thousand dollars had been charged to my debit card.

Gaze cold, I instructed my assistant, Heath Oakley, to freeze the card I'd given Lorraine. "Take back all of the properties, cars, and retail outlets I gave her, too.

"Also, get the word out that from now on, she has nothing to do with me."

Heath, who'd always been collected no matter the situation, looked positively thunderstruck right now.

Lorraine and I had been childhood sweethearts. I'd doted on her and defended her ever since we were children. Even when I found out she wasn't the Jensens' biological daughter, I didn't scorn her for that.

No one had ever doubted my love for her.

Thus, when the news spread, all of my friends asked if I was preparing yet another surprise for Lorraine.

Thinking about the wedding ceremony that was taking place next month, I smirked. "It's going to be such a pleasant surprise for her, alright."

After all, she avoided me like the plague, didn't she?

She should probably be happy that I was getting married to someone else, then.